Do you have any proof that "whites" aren't arrested for crimes in this county? Typical to try to use the "race card" as a "Get-Out-of-Jail-Free card."

There are rational reasons that people give for questioning the effectiveness of the "War on Drugs," but yelling discrimination without any proof is not one of them.

Here are some facts for those who don't know much about marijuana.

All forms of cannabis are mind-altering (psycho-active) drugs.

The short-term effects of marijuana include the following:

* Problems with memory (difficulty remembering things that just happened) and learning (trouble handling complex tasks, i.e., those that require more than 1 or 2 steps)

* Distorted perception (sights, sounds, time, touch) -- The user's eyes may dilate (appear very red and bloodshot), causing colors to appear more intense, and other senses may be enhanced. It's common for marijuana users to become engrossed with ordinary sights, sounds, or tastes, and trivial events may seem extremely interesting or funny. Time seems to pass very slowly; so minutes feel like hours. Sometimes the drug causes users to feel thirsty and very hungry (an effect called "the munchies").

* Trouble with thinking and problem-solving

* Loss of motor coordination (dizziness and trouble walking and poor sense of balance) and a slower reaction time

* Silly and giggly for no reason

* Initially relaxing and mellow, creating a feeling of haziness and light-headedness – It is used as a method for coping with life's problems (anxiety, anger, depression, boredom, etc.)

* Disorientation

* Increased heart rate (up to twice the normal rate), anxiety, panic attacks

* When the early effects fade, over a few hours the user can become very sleepy.

* Feelings of a paranoia and panic may be felt by the user (with hallucinations and delusions)

* Changes in behavior: withdrawal, depression, fatigue, carelessness with grooming, hostility, and deteriorating relationships with family members and friends

Marijuana has serious harmful effects on the skills needed for driving a car (even more so when combined with alcohol). Timing (reaction time), coordination, alertness (concentration), and performance are all affected. For instance, the marijuana user may have trouble judging distances and may have delayed reactions to sights and sounds that drivers need to notice. These effects can last up to 24 hours after smoking marijuana [unlike the alcohol of one drink that can be cleared by the liver in one hour]. Drivers would be more impaired in emergency situations, which put high demands on the driver's information processing capacity, and with prolonged monotonous driving.

If a person's high (intoxicated and/or euphoric) on marijuana, he is more likely to make mistakes that could embarrass or even hurt him. If he uses marijuana a lot, he could start to lose interest in how he looks and how he’s getting along at school or work (decrease in motivation).

Since marijuana can affect judgment and decision-making, its use can lead to risky sexual behavior, resulting in exposure to sexually transmitted diseases.

There are a number of possible symptoms associated with the cessation of marijuana use. These symptoms most commonly include irritability, nervousness, depression, anxiety, and even anger. Other symptoms are restlessness, severe changes in appetite, violent outbursts, interrupted sleep, or even insomnia. In addition to these possible physical effects, psychological dependence usually develops because a person's mind craves the high that it gets when using the drug.

Long-term marijuana use may create changes in the brain that make a person more at risk of becoming addicted to other drugs, such as alcohol or cocaine. Very few people use other drugs without first trying marijuana, alcohol, or tobacco.

Users are much more likely than nonusers to have arrest histories, low self-esteem, high rates of depression, and friends who are deviant. Many marijuana smokers also often have alcohol-related problems. Employees who use marijuana report more absenteeism, tardiness, accidents, workers' compensation claims, and job turnover than workers who had not used marijuana. They are also more likely to report to work with a hangover, miss work because of a hangover, and be drunk or use drugs at work.

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Not being a pot-head, I can't verify these effects; but after observing some users, smoking pot did not improve them but affected them negatively. And they all went on to other drugs.

** So, exactly why should another drug be legalized when alcohol already causes so many problems? **

Why don't you work to have stricter controls on alcohol and/or harsher
punishments, or educate people about alcohol, or work at AA or at the Battered Women's Shelter (think that's the name), or anything productive instead of imagining discrimination?

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Out! Out! You demons of stupidity!

There aren't many who have lived past the age of 60 who don't recognize the effects of marijuana. When used as a medication - prescribed by a physician - it may assist a person who needs help with dealing with an ailment. When used as an 'aspirin' it usually leads to the use of more potent (and more dangerous) drugs. [Research has supported this theory] There has been a problem with 'equal' application of the law by law enforcement and the courts. Discrimination (racism) still exists in our wonderful country - and the application of law is not immune from this sad reality. However, when quickly going over the record of recent arrests for possession of drugs in Fayette County - whites are included. . .not excluded. Race is an issue - not to be dealt with lightly - for racism is a blemish on our democracy. But let's be fair. Whites are arrested in Fayette County. Let's deal with the equal application of the law - as the thinking public is demanding. (Note Paris Hilton)